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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Lieutenant Colonel · U.S. Army

Michael C. Murphy

Lieutenant Colonel Michael C. Murphy, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on May 24, 1864 at North Anna River, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War May 24, 1864Born in Ireland

Lieutenant Colonel Michael C. Murphy, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on May 24, 1864 at North Anna River, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 170th New York Infantry. Murphy was about 28 years old.

5 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on January 15, 1897, 32 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Colonel.

Murphy was born in 1836 in Limerick, County Limerick, Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York, New York. Murphy died on March 4, 1903, at the age of about 67. He is buried at Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, New York.

Murphy is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 678 credited to New York.

Official Medal of Honor citation

This officer, commanding the regiment, kept it on the field exposed to the fire of the enemy for three hours without being able to fire one shot in return because of the ammunition being exhausted.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Timeline

  1. 1836
    Born in Limerick, County Limerick, Ireland
  2. May 24, 1864
    Act of valor — North Anna River, Virginia
    Age about 28. 170th New York Infantry
  3. January 15, 1897
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. March 4, 1903
    Died
    Age about 67.
  5. Resting place
    Kensico Cemetery
    Valhalla, New York

Further reading

Also honored for actions on May 24, 1864

George Washington Brush Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 WD William Downey Private · Army Civil War · 1864 JD John Duffey Private · Army Civil War · 1864 David L. Gifford Private · Army Civil War · 1864 PS Patrick Scanlan Private · Army Civil War · 1864

More Civil War recipients from New York

RS Robert F. Shipley First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 LP Loron F. Packard Private · Army Civil War · 1863 AB Andrew Bringle Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 William P. Hogarty Private · Army Civil War · 1862 AB Asa Betham Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1864 JT John Tribe Private · Army Civil War · 1862
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.